Lead Planner - Fabrication Engineering Group (Specialist II)

Job Description

The Fabrication Engineering Group seeks a talented, creative, and motivated individual to strengthen the Group’s ability to provide rapid and innovative solutions to challenging problems. The successful candidate is a cross-functional leader responsible for driving the operational execution of engineering development and prototype manufacturing from planning through assembly, integration, and delivery. This role integrates program management, supply chain planning, supplier management, engineering manufacturing execution, and operational readiness to ensure prototype hardware is delivered to programs on time, within budget, and to the required quality and technical specifications. The successful candidate will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team including program team members, shop area leads, and the planning team to optimize and effectively execute shop operations to develop a prototype system. A unique aspect of MIT LL is that we develop prototype systems rather than high volume production. The role of the Lead Planner will focus on effective execution in a job shop environment. The ideal candidate will partner with the program planning team to continuously improve fabrication schedule alignment to program needs as well as optimize utilization of Fabrication Engineering resources and ensure a smooth transition from planning to fabrication of prototypes. The position serves as the operational bridge between Engineering, Program Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and external suppliers. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable developing an integrated program schedule, managing cost and capacity constraints, working through supplier issues, and getting into the details of a PCBA, cable assembly, machined chassis, or electro-mechanical build. The role will establish and maintain the planning and execution infrastructure required to translate engineering development plans into executable manufacturing and supply-chain activities.

• Program Operations and Integrated Planning - Develop and maintain cross-functional plans spanning Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality, and Integration
• Supply Chain and Master Scheduling – Coordinate master development and production schedules, translating engineering requirements, BOMs, and program milestones into material and procurement plans. Drive material readiness, identify and mitigate supply-chain risks, and coordinate configuration change management as it affects supply chain partners and manufacturing areas.
• Vendor and Supplier Management – Manage operational relationships with key component and prototype manufacturing suppliers, including commitments, milestones, capacity, cost, quality, and delivery.
• Prototype Manufacturing Execution – Drive manufacturing readiness by ensuring materials, tooling, fixtures, documentation, and labor are available. Develop manufacturing data packages for prototype assemblies.
• Engineering and Design Collaboration – Provide manufacturing, supply-chain, cost, and schedule input to design reviews and development decisions.
• Cost Management – Track cost performance, identify cost drivers and reduction opportunities, and support supplier negotiations, quotation analysis, and make/buy decisions.
• Operational Excellence
  • Establish scalable processes, tools, and metrics for integrated planning, material readiness, supplier management and prototype manufacturing execution.
  • Drive continuous improvement through operational metrics, standardized build/readiness processes, and lessons learned.

Requirments

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably within STEM discipline
• 5+ years of experience in program management, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, hardware development, or a combination of these disciplines
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with evolving requirements and priorities.
• Strong project management, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and business stakeholder

Preferred Experience (not required)

• Experience managing complex hardware development or prototype manufacturing programs from early engineering prototype through qualification, and pilot production, including managing cost, schedule, material readiness, operational risk, and lean manufacturing principles.
• Experience developing and managing integrated schedules involving engineering, procurement, suppliers, manufacturing, and integration; ERP/MRP, PLM, MES, or integrated planning systems; master scheduling, capacity planning.
• Experience with the following: PCBA, cable/harness manufacturing, CNC machining, sheet metal/chassis fabrication, electro-mechanical assembly, integration, or functional test.
• Experience with supplier/vendor management and external manufacturing partners.